Ghadar to release book discussing immigration's benefits

Ghadar to release book discussing immigration's benefits

By Victoria Fryer

February 18, 2014

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State Smeal College of Business Professor Fariborz Ghadar has authored a book dispelling common immigration myths and explaining why immigration is imperative to the United States’ continued prosperity.

"Becoming American: Why Immigration is Good for Our Nation’s Future" is slated for a March release from Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Ghadar’s book opens with the debunking of numerous misconceptions about immigration, including the commonly held believe that immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy.

“Immigrants generate revenue through buying power and through paying taxes, as well as through creating jobs in America.”

-- Fariborz Ghadar, William A. Schreyer Professor of Global Management, Policies and Planning, Smeal College of Business

In fact, Ghadar argued, “Immigrants generate revenue through buying power and through paying taxes, as well as through creating jobs in America.” He continues, “Although many undocumented immigrants currently pay lower taxes because they work off the books, their purchasing power allots for the sustainment of hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs.”

Throughout his book, Ghadar argues that immigration is one factor that makes the American economy strong -- particularly in drawing the best and brightest individuals from across the world. But as the U.S. tightens its borders, other countries with friendlier immigration policies are attracting more of that top talent.

This becomes more concerning as the U.S. workforce -- predominantly living longer and having fewer children -- continues to age. Ghadar wrotes that by 2018, “only 12.7 percent of the labor force will be aged sixteen to twenty-four.”

“An American by choice, Fariborz Ghadar offers an unblinking perspective on the challenges and aspirations of immigrants, weaving together concrete analysis and personal narrative into an insightful book with useful policy prescriptions.”

-- John Hamre, chief executive officer, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Ghadar, himself an immigrant, offers a personal approach to his study. Not only does he tell his own story, but he also shares narratives of some of our nation’s most successful immigrants.

“An American by choice, Fariborz Ghadar offers an unblinking perspective on the challenges and aspirations of immigrants, weaving together concrete analysis and personal narrative into an insightful book with useful policy prescriptions,” said John Hamre, chief executive officer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"Becoming American" will become available in March 2014. It can be ordered online at www.rowman.com.

Ghadar is the founding director of the Center for Global Business Studies in the Penn State Smeal College of Business. He is also a senior adviser and distinguished scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Iranian born, Ghadar became a U.S. citizen in 1979.